Discovery will soon become Warner Bros. Discovery when its merger with AT&T’s WarnerMedia is complete next month, and as expected the newly formed company will combine their two streaming services — Discovery Plus and HBO Max — into a single service.

According to Variety Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels confirmed this week that Discovery will combine the two streamers amid speculation over the future of this newly joined company. “One of the most important items here is that we believe in a combined product as opposed to a bundle,” Wiedenfels says.

Analysts didn’t have a clear view on whether Warner Bros. Discovery would combine the two services, or offer a bundle similar to the one Disney offers for Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu.

However, Wiedenfels also confirmed that combining HBO Max and Discovery Plus into a new service will take some time. And so in the immediate future, there will be a bundle for the two streaming services before a new app is ready.

Discovery Plus is currently available for $4.99 a month with ads or $6.99 without, while HBO Max costs $9.99 for an ad-supported version or $14.99 for the ad-free version. No word yet on what a combined streaming service will cost.

WarnerMedia and Discovery announced the $43 billion deal in 2021, three years after AT&T acquired WarnerMedia for $85 billion. The merger will combine WarnerMedia’s vast catalog of movies and TV shows with Discovery’s library of unscripted programming, think reality shows, and docu-series.

HBO Max will bring shows like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and movies like Dune and The Batman together with Discovery’s hit reality shows like 90 Day Fiance and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

While the two sides bring different shows and movies to the table, combined it could potentially offer a “something for everyone” package, especially if the price is compelling. For more on the massive deal check out IGN’s in-depth explainer on the merger.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Whether because of its simple but iconic style, or because it marked the moment that Sonic the Hedgehog truly exploded in popularity, Sonic 2's original boxart remains lodged in gaming's collective consciousness even today, 30 years after its original release.

Apparently aware of this, the upcoming Sonic 2 movie has released yet another poster, this one aimed at squarely at fans who still have fond memories of the beloved sequel. Voice actor Ben Schwartz, who will reprise his role as Sonic in the upcoming film, shared the new poster on Twitter.

The poster is a clear homage to the original boxart, with Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik grinning over a giant number denoting the sequel. The tagline — "Welcome to the Next Level" — is a reference to the classic Sega Genesis ad campaign from the early 90s.

But while it's very similar to the original boxart, it also differs in some ways. Sonic and Tails still take center stage, but they're standing back-to-back in this version. Instead of a blank background, there's a fantastical waterfall. All in all it's more dynamic, but perhaps not as clean as the original.

The poster was released in the run-up to the release of Sonic 2, which is due next month. Earlier today, Paramount also released the movie's final trailer, which prominently features Idris Elba's Knuckles.

Paramount and Sega have big plans for Sonic. In addition to the upcoming movie, a Knuckles spin-off series starring Elba is in the works for Paramount Plus. Sega also has a new game in development.

In the meantime, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is set to premiere on April 8. While you wait, check out our Sonic 2 panel discussion, which originally premiered during IGN Fan Fest 2022.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Whether because of its simple but iconic style, or because it marked the moment that Sonic the Hedgehog truly exploded in popularity, Sonic 2's original boxart remains lodged in gaming's collective consciousness even today, 30 years after its original release.

Apparently aware of this, the upcoming Sonic 2 movie has released yet another poster, this one aimed at squarely at fans who still have fond memories of the beloved sequel. Voice actor Ben Schwartz, who will reprise his role as Sonic in the upcoming film, shared the new poster on Twitter.

The poster is a clear homage to the original boxart, with Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik grinning over a giant number denoting the sequel. The tagline — "Welcome to the Next Level" — is a reference to the classic Sega Genesis ad campaign from the early 90s.

But while it's very similar to the original boxart, it also differs in some ways. Sonic and Tails still take center stage, but they're standing back-to-back in this version. Instead of a blank background, there's a fantastical waterfall. All in all it's more dynamic, but perhaps not as clean as the original.

The poster was released in the run-up to the release of Sonic 2, which is due next month. Earlier today, Paramount also released the movie's final trailer, which prominently features Idris Elba's Knuckles.

Paramount and Sega have big plans for Sonic. In addition to the upcoming movie, a Knuckles spin-off series starring Elba is in the works for Paramount Plus. Sega also has a new game in development.

In the meantime, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is set to premiere on April 8. While you wait, check out our Sonic 2 panel discussion, which originally premiered during IGN Fan Fest 2022.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

An infamous hacker is invading Elden Ring players and soft-banning them for sport.

Malcolm Reynolds, who's been hacking FromSoftware games since Dark Souls 3, invades worlds before killing players with hacked, practically undefeatable spells.

The overwhelming power isn't the issue though. As Kotaku reports, these spells also add "illegal" items into the defending player's inventory that were only intended to be used in the development process.

When the defeated player comes back to life, Elden Ring detects they have these illegal items and soft-bans them, meaning they can only play online with other cheaters going forward.

Reynolds said he's forcing players into digital exile to make a point to FromSoftware. Telling Kotaku that he wants to get caught, he calls himself a "necessary evil" that the developer should use as a lesson to implement better anti-cheat software.

Despite claiming a noble cause, however, Reynolds has uploaded YouTube videos of his cheating, killing, and soft-banning while making jokes at his victims' expense.

If Reynolds does invade a game, the best thing to do, according to a Dark Souls 3 Reddit post from six years ago, is disconnect or close the software, or suicide to avoid being killed by him.

It's no surprise Reynolds has made an appearance again, given his history with other FromSoftware titles and the sheer popularity of Elden Ring.

It's proven somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, with crazy adverts, a streamer's Twitch chat playing while he swept, and someone using the Nintendo Switch's Ring Fit Controller to beat a boss. It's even got its own candy.

In our 10/10 review, IGN said: "Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path."

To make those choices with the best available information, check out our guide that features everything you could ever hope to know about Elden Ring, including collectible locations, boss strategies, and more.

Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance writer at IGN

An infamous hacker is invading Elden Ring players and soft-banning them for sport.

Malcolm Reynolds, who's been hacking FromSoftware games since Dark Souls 3, invades worlds before killing players with hacked, practically undefeatable spells.

The overwhelming power isn't the issue though. As Kotaku reports, these spells also add "illegal" items into the defending player's inventory that were only intended to be used in the development process.

When the defeated player comes back to life, Elden Ring detects they have these illegal items and soft-bans them, meaning they can only play online with other cheaters going forward.

Reynolds said he's forcing players into digital exile to make a point to FromSoftware. Telling Kotaku that he wants to get caught, he calls himself a "necessary evil" that the developer should use as a lesson to implement better anti-cheat software.

Despite claiming a noble cause, however, Reynolds has uploaded YouTube videos of his cheating, killing, and soft-banning while making jokes at his victims' expense.

If Reynolds does invade a game, the best thing to do, according to a Dark Souls 3 Reddit post from six years ago, is disconnect or close the software, or suicide to avoid being killed by him.

It's no surprise Reynolds has made an appearance again, given his history with other FromSoftware titles and the sheer popularity of Elden Ring.

It's proven somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, with crazy adverts, a streamer's Twitch chat playing while he swept, and someone using the Nintendo Switch's Ring Fit Controller to beat a boss. It's even got its own candy.

In our 10/10 review, IGN said: "Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path."

To make those choices with the best available information, check out our guide that features everything you could ever hope to know about Elden Ring, including collectible locations, boss strategies, and more.

Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance writer at IGN

Benedict Cumberbatch has suggested that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could end up reaching Spider-Man: No Way Home's level of success.

Speaking to Empire Magazine, the Sorcerer Supreme actor considered how the forthcoming Doctor Strange sequel may perform when it opens exclusively in theaters on May 6. He shared his belief that the Multiverse of Madness could end up being as big a hit as Tom Holland's Spidey trilogy-capper, which collected $1.86 billion at the worldwide box office.

"It's a big, big movie. It's going to be an absolute riot. And if it brings off the level of ambition it's got, we're going to have a success on the level of Spidey," Cumberbatch teased about his next solo outing as the Master of Mystic Arts in the MCU, confidently assuring that he would put his "flag in the sand" alongside these claims about the movie's potential success.

Peter Parker's latest web-slinging adventure shattered several box office records upon its release in December. The Marvel blockbuster crossed $1 billion overseas and also managed to break Avatar's record domestically to become the third highest grossing film in U.S. history, with that feat coming 60 days after the Holland and Zendaya-led film hit cinemas stateside.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme traversing the "mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary" and push the boundaries of the Multiverse further than ever before — with seemingly surprising results.

"There's a lot of reckoning," Cumberbatch added of the film. "Strange is almost a stranger to himself before this film unfolds and reveals what, essentially, is in his nature, that he then has to either confront or resist or fall into or become. There are some very bold ideas, and some extraordinary tests of Strange and encounters. There are some very unexpected conclusions."

Doctor Strange 2 is out in theaters on May 6, and promises to see quite a few returning faces, including Chiwetel Ejiofor's Mordo, Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer, Elizabeth Olson's Wanda Maximoff, and Benedict Wong's Wong. Xochitl Gomez also stars as America Chavez, a member of the Young Avengers (in the comics anyway).

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Benedict Cumberbatch has suggested that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness could end up reaching Spider-Man: No Way Home's level of success.

Speaking to Empire Magazine, the Sorcerer Supreme actor considered how the forthcoming Doctor Strange sequel may perform when it opens exclusively in theaters on May 6. He shared his belief that the Multiverse of Madness could end up being as big a hit as Tom Holland's Spidey trilogy-capper, which collected $1.86 billion at the worldwide box office.

"It's a big, big movie. It's going to be an absolute riot. And if it brings off the level of ambition it's got, we're going to have a success on the level of Spidey," Cumberbatch teased about his next solo outing as the Master of Mystic Arts in the MCU, confidently assuring that he would put his "flag in the sand" alongside these claims about the movie's potential success.

Peter Parker's latest web-slinging adventure shattered several box office records upon its release in December. The Marvel blockbuster crossed $1 billion overseas and also managed to break Avatar's record domestically to become the third highest grossing film in U.S. history, with that feat coming 60 days after the Holland and Zendaya-led film hit cinemas stateside.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Cumberbatch's Sorcerer Supreme traversing the "mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary" and push the boundaries of the Multiverse further than ever before — with seemingly surprising results.

"There's a lot of reckoning," Cumberbatch added of the film. "Strange is almost a stranger to himself before this film unfolds and reveals what, essentially, is in his nature, that he then has to either confront or resist or fall into or become. There are some very bold ideas, and some extraordinary tests of Strange and encounters. There are some very unexpected conclusions."

Doctor Strange 2 is out in theaters on May 6, and promises to see quite a few returning faces, including Chiwetel Ejiofor's Mordo, Rachel McAdams' Christine Palmer, Elizabeth Olson's Wanda Maximoff, and Benedict Wong's Wong. Xochitl Gomez also stars as America Chavez, a member of the Young Avengers (in the comics anyway).

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, has bought a "significant, non-controlling stake" in the animation studio behind Netflix's Arcane.

Riot Games has strengthened its longtime partnership with Fortiche Production, the studio handling animation duties for Arcane, through a new equity investment that will see the League of Legends developer and publisher taking a "non-controlling stake and board advisory role" in the company, following a recent collaboration on the hit Netflix series.

Under the terms of the investment, which closed earlier this year, the board advisory roles at Fortiche will be headed up by Riot's Director of Corporate Development, Brendan Mulligan, and Riot's Chief Content Officer, Brian Wright. Wright is a former Netflix executive, who was hired in September to develop the company's global film, TV and animation strategies.

Riot Games is known for developing and publishing League of Legends and Valorant, and the company is currently working with Fortiche on the second season of Arcane, the critically acclaimed animated series that takes place in the League of Legends universe, as well as "other to-be-announced projects," according to the press release announcing the investment.

"The various collaborations with Riot Games, and especially Arcane, have made Fortiche Production a new major player on the international animation scene," said the co-founders of Fortiche. "Riot Games, by trusting us, has given us the means to achieve our common ambitions and has shown that it is possible to offer new content that can reach a large audience. In 2023, we will celebrate ten years of collaboration: there is no better way to symbolize the trust and ambitions of our two companies than this association!"

"Fortiche has been an integral partner for a long time, but this agreement ensures we'll be working closely for decades to come," said Nicolo Laurent, CEO of Riot. "We hold a high bar for everyone we work with and insist they understand players deeply and focus on them relentlessly, and from day one, Fortiche has exemplified Player Experience First. In working with Fortiche, we collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible and raise expectations for how games can be represented in media. As proud as we are of Arcane, we know the best is yet to come."

Arcane quickly became the number one streaming show on Netflix when it premiered in November, and it held onto the top spot for three weeks in a row. IGN's review of Arcane awarded it a rare 10/10 score, saying, "Arcane is the first video game adaptation that's truly a masterpiece, breaking new ground for what's possible in TV animation."

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, has bought a "significant, non-controlling stake" in the animation studio behind Netflix's Arcane.

Riot Games has strengthened its longtime partnership with Fortiche Production, the studio handling animation duties for Arcane, through a new equity investment that will see the League of Legends developer and publisher taking a "non-controlling stake and board advisory role" in the company, following a recent collaboration on the hit Netflix series.

Under the terms of the investment, which closed earlier this year, the board advisory roles at Fortiche will be headed up by Riot's Director of Corporate Development, Brendan Mulligan, and Riot's Chief Content Officer, Brian Wright. Wright is a former Netflix executive, who was hired in September to develop the company's global film, TV and animation strategies.

Riot Games is known for developing and publishing League of Legends and Valorant, and the company is currently working with Fortiche on the second season of Arcane, the critically acclaimed animated series that takes place in the League of Legends universe, as well as "other to-be-announced projects," according to the press release announcing the investment.

"The various collaborations with Riot Games, and especially Arcane, have made Fortiche Production a new major player on the international animation scene," said the co-founders of Fortiche. "Riot Games, by trusting us, has given us the means to achieve our common ambitions and has shown that it is possible to offer new content that can reach a large audience. In 2023, we will celebrate ten years of collaboration: there is no better way to symbolize the trust and ambitions of our two companies than this association!"

"Fortiche has been an integral partner for a long time, but this agreement ensures we'll be working closely for decades to come," said Nicolo Laurent, CEO of Riot. "We hold a high bar for everyone we work with and insist they understand players deeply and focus on them relentlessly, and from day one, Fortiche has exemplified Player Experience First. In working with Fortiche, we collaborate to push the boundaries of what's possible and raise expectations for how games can be represented in media. As proud as we are of Arcane, we know the best is yet to come."

Arcane quickly became the number one streaming show on Netflix when it premiered in November, and it held onto the top spot for three weeks in a row. IGN's review of Arcane awarded it a rare 10/10 score, saying, "Arcane is the first video game adaptation that's truly a masterpiece, breaking new ground for what's possible in TV animation."

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Despite speculation, System Shock co-creator Warren Spector – and his studio Otherside Entertainment – hasn't been working on System Shock 3 since 2019.

While Otherside announced that the long-awaited sequel's development had transferred over to Tencent in 2020, it was unclear at the time whether Otherside would remain involved in the project in some respect.

However, speaking to GamesBeat, Spector confirmed that Otherside is totally divorced from the project and Tencent is now its only developer."There’s not much more to say at this point," he said. "Tencent is taking the franchise forward. It’ll be up to them to say what they want to say. There’s not much clarification I can give you."

Spector made clear that Otherside only worked on System Shock 3 in 2018 and 2019, before the project was passed onto Tencent. Spector added that Otherside had, at a maximum, 17 employees on the project, but said that the problems involved in passing the project on never made him think he should dissolve the company, despite having to make layoffs:

"I never thought that it would be good to disband any team. It happens in this business, maybe more frequently than one would hope. But no. I had a good team. We ran into some circumstances. Tencent is now taking the franchise forward. It’s good for everybody, honestly."

Otherside had orgiinally obtained the rights to develop System Shock 3 and further sequels, while NightDive Studios is currently working on a remake of the original game. It's not clear where the ongoing rights for the System Shock series lie. Tencent is a Chinese developer and publisher best known for its work on mobile games including Call of Duty: Mobile.

Spector says Otherside is now working on a wholly original game, but which he suggests will be an evolution of his work in the space of immersive sims such as System Shock and Deus Ex: "I’m a relentless advocate for a particular kind of game, for immersive simulations. I’m going to do that for the rest of my life, or at least the rest of my career. If I can’t do that I guess I’ll stop making games. But in many ways [the new game is] what I’ve been thinking about for quite a while as the next step in immersive sims. If we pull it off, people are not going to be ready for what’s going to hit them."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale.